Halifax
The key to the mysterious death of a Halifax man might lie in the similarly puzzling passing of Lucky, his pet chihuahua. Lucky was found dead alongside his murdered owner last month, and police say they are simply “dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s” by having a necropsy done to determine the canine’s cause of death. “At this point, there’s nothing to suggest that any foul play was done to the dog, but we won’t know unless an autopsy (is done) and that may help provide a motive,” Halifax regional police spokesman Const. Brian Palmeter told the Chronicle Herald. Neighbours reportedly spotted a host of flies near Shawn Andrew Mead’s apartment, leading police to the remains of the 32-year-old Haligonian on June 27.

Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
These fish have arms. And legs. And fingers. And toes. A celebrated missing-link fossil found in Nunavut seven years ago has led scientists to a significant new discovery that the genetic blueprint for those body parts existed in prehistoric fish long before some of them evolved into land animals exhibiting such features. The finding by a team of U.S. researchers reinforces the reputation of Tiktaalik roseae — a 375-million-year-old fossilized “fishapod” discovered on Ellesmere Island in 2004 — as an “evolutionary icon.” The researchers also found that a genetic “switch” traced to primitive fish could be transplanted from present-day swimmers into modern mice embryos, successfully triggering limb development.

Sydney, Nova Scotia; Summerside, P.E.I.
Tiny Dancers will hold their Candle(s) in the Wind this fall, as Brit sensation Elton John descends upon Sydney, N.S., and Summerside, P.E.I., for a pair of performances in September. But Summerside residents fear not: Unlike the unfulfilled Michael Jackson tribute concert that cost the city $1.3 million, Sir Elton’s soiree will be a boost to the books. Mayor Basil Stewart told CBC News this week that the city will “make a good dollar” on the rental of Credit Union Place, where seats are slated to run from $71.50 to $155.50.

Vancouver

Twenty years ago Jon Cobb broke into a rival high school and stole a goat. It was prank week, and the goat was the mascot. Though slapped with a burglary charge at the time, the incident became innocent, juvenile history. And so it came as a surprise to the San Francisco resident when Canada Border Services Agency cited that petty crime as a reason to bar him from the country on Saturday. Mr. Cobb said he was held for seven hours and asked about many details from his past including his uncle’s death in a bus crash in 2009. They also picked through his stuff, took his cellphone and read his texts, the man alleges. “I’ve been to Vancouver four or five times,” he told the CBC. “I’ve always had this extra screening, every single time, and this time was the most brutal. It was quite possibly the most humiliating experience I’ve ever had in my life, being escorted all around the airport and people looking at me like, ‘What did that guy do?'” The CBSA said these matters are handled on a case-by-case basis and that even small misdemeanours can mean a denial of entry. They didn’t, however, explain why Mr. Cobb had been allowed to visit those four or five times prior.

Calgary

“Question: With so many girls wearing the extreme short shorts; what the heck do hookers wear? How do you spot ’em?” That tweet sent by the Calgary Stampede’s former president and chairman George Brookman is drawing fire from short-sporting women this week saying no man should tell them the “appropriate” way to dress. Nonetheless, Mr. Brookman defended his comments Sunday: “Last night there were three young girls standing outside Stampede Park, I thought to myself if they were my daughters I should be taking them home,” he told the Calgary Sun. “There were three walking down the street, I guess they were just girls down at Stampede … anyone driving by would think they were three hookers.” Maybe Mr. Brookman can also explain why he’s trying to differentiate regular girls from hookers?

Merlin, Ont.

A 36-year-old Windsor woman is facing charges this week after she failed to stop for a police officer because she was texting (or so the cops say). The woman’s car sped past the patrol cruiser around 3 p.m. Monday, spurring the officer to turn on the sirens and try to catch up. When it didn’t pull over, the officer pulled up alongside the woman’s car and allegedly saw her texting. It was only when she saw the officer waving at her through his open window that she put down the phone and pulled over, police say. Here’s hoping that very important text went through before she had to deal with the police.